Luminous switch-key.



M. T. ROSENHE'IM.

' LUMINOUS- SWITCH KEY- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1 914.

1,147,269., Patented July a3, 3215.

INYEN TOR V'BY ATTORNEY MILTON T. ROSENHEIM, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

LUMINOUS SWITCH-KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 16, 1914. Serial No. 845,377.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON T. ROSEN- HEIM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Luminous Switch-Keys, of

which the following is a specificatiomrcference being had to theaccompanying drawnently retain its luminosity under all condi tions;which shall not require exposure to daylight or artificial light fromtime to time, in order to maintain it in aluminous condition, and toprovide a luminous switch key, push, pendant or the like which may becheaply and easily constructed and which may be used in connection withthe ordinary type of gas or electric switches or fixtures now upon themarket.

My invention further includes all of the other various novel ,objectsand features hereinafter more definitely specified and described. 4 Y

In thedrawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a luminous switch key embodying one form of my invention;Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, and Fig. 3 a transverse section takenupon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 4 is shown a sideelevationpartially in section of a slightly modified form of key; Figs.5 and 6 being respectively an end view 'of such a key and a transversesection thereof on the line 66 looking in the direction of the arrows.In Figs. 7 and 8 is-shown a further slightly modified form of key, Fig.8 being a vertical central section of the key and Fig. 7 an end viewthereof partially in section, such section being taken on the line7-7'in Fig.8, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figs. 9 and 10 showrespectively still other slightly modified forms of switch keysembodying my invention, each of said figures depicting such keys insubstantially central vertical section. In Figs. 11 and 12 are re-PatentedJuly e0, 1915.

spectively shown elevational views, partially Y in central verticalsection, of pendants em-' the features of my inventlon, and in Figs. 13and 14 are shown simllar views bodying of two forms of'push buttons alsoembodying the features of myinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of my invention showntherein in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may consistofa key. having a body portion'lwhich may be constructed integrally or by cementing or otherwisefastening together two or more sections or members 2, 3 by means of asuitable adhesive 5, or in any other desired manner, one or more of thesections being preferably formed ofany desired transparent,-ortranslucent material, such as glass or celluloid. The sections 2 and3, if the key be'formed in sections and not integral, may be of anydesired shape and are preferably so formed as to provide a cavity 6 ofany desired depth in the interior of the key when the said sections arein assembled position, the dimensions of the cavity being limited merelyby the limits afforded by the key, within which the cavity may be formedof any desired size.' If desired, however, the body ofthe key, insteadof being formed in sections, may be formed integrally, either byblowing, molding or otherwise.

For the purpose of attaching thekey to suitably retained within asuitable aperture in the body of the key, or else the shaft may bepermanently attached to the switch, and

means, consisting of a suitable threaded aperture 10, or the like,provided upon the key for the purpose of receiving the end of the shaft,as shown in Fig. fl, or other equivalent means employed.

Within the cavity 6 and preferably before the two sections of the keyare cemented or otherwise secured together, if the same be not formedintegrally, is'introduced a lumi nous substance '12, in any desiredquantity, which substance may preferably consist. of radiumized zincsulfid, or some other radiumized substance or compound. This sub? stancemay be placed within the cavity in solid, liquid, pasty or powderedf0rni,, or

rod

itmay preferably, in this form of the invention, be applied as a coatingto the walls of the cavity, as a coating 12, in any desired that as thecavity is of appreciableextent in every direction, the coating upon itswalls will be visible from any point from which it may be viewed whenthe key is in position upon a switch,.as from no point from which itmaybe observed when in position, will it present merely a hair-like line tothe eye of the observer.

In Figs. 4,5. and 6 is shown a slightly modified form of switch key inwhich the body of the key may be formed in two or more sections 15 andl6,"suitably secured together, as by an adhesive 5 and provided .withmeans consisting of a suitable threaded aperture 10 or the like for theattachment of the key to the stub shaft of the switch, the section 15being preferably of translucent material. In this form of key, thecoating 12 may be applied to the inside of the aperture 6 within the keyin like manner as in that form of key previously described, the twosections 15 and 16 being cemented or otherwise permanently secured inposition after the introduction of the coating within the key.

' In Figs. 7 and .8 are shown a further slightly modified form ofkeyembodying my invention, also constructed with a body having two or moreparts or sections 20 and 21, provided with a'suitable internallythreaded aperture 10, or the like, for the attachment of the stub shaftof the switch, the

two sections being cemented or otherwise permanently secured together.In this form of my device the coating 12 is applied to the surface of apreferably substantially conical point 23 formed upon the section 21 andprojecting into the cavity 6 within the body of the key. If desired, inthis form of key the section 21 need not necessarily be formed oftranslucent material, although I prefer at least to form the point 23 ofmaterial having a light color such as porcelain. It will be evident thatthe luminous coating upon the point will be visible to the observer fromany angle from which the key may be observed when in use.

A slightly modified form of the device is that shown in Fig. 9, whichdepicts a longitudinal section of one of the members or sections whichform the body of the key, such section being taken very slightly back ofthe meeting face of the member 30. The

cavity 6 in this form of the device is preferably formed ofsubstantially conical shape,

substantially one half of the cavity being hollowed from each member,and the luminous coating 12 may be applied to the walls of the cavity,and the members maintained in fixed relation in any desired manner. Inthis form of key means for attaching the same to a switch or the like,preferably consisting of a suitable threaded aperture 10 are provided,which aperture may be formed directly in the body section or in aseparate section 31 maintained in fixed relation to the body section asshown.

The form of key shown in Fig. 10 is quite analogousto that of Fig. 8,the body of the key being formed in two sections 38 and 39, the latterbeing preferably formed with a somewhat obtuse conical point upon whichmay be applied the luminouscoating 12. The two sections 38 and 39 beingsecured together in any-desired manner, as by a suitable adhesive.- Thekey is provided with a suitable means for attaching to a switch or thelike, which may consist of a suitable threaded aperture 10, formedeither directly within one section 39 of the key, or else within anextension .42 suitably secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 10, Or otherequivalent means may be employed. The extension of course need not be oftranslucent material, nor need the section 39 be constructed thereof inthis embodiment of my device.

In Figs. 11 and 12 are shown forms of my invention embodied in pendantssuitable for use with pull switches, the pendantv shown in Fig. 11comprising a body formed of two sections 45 and 46, a suitable cavity 48within the body having a luminous coating 12 applied to its walls, andthe pendant being supplied with a light chain 49 or other means forattachment to a switch, the two 'cured in fixed relation after theapplication of the coating to-the interior of the walls. In Fig. 12 thebody of the pendant is formed with two sections 50 and 51, a suitablecavity 6 being formed between the two sections and the coating 12 beingapplied to the substantially conical face of the section 50, the twosections being secured together in any desired manner. A cap 52 may beprovided as well vasmeans in the form of a light chain 54, or the like,for attaching the pendant to a switch, or the cap may be omitted and thechain attached, directly to the body of the pendant.

equivalent means, are secured to the body of the push button, and thesections thereof are secured tdgether in any suitable way. Fig. 14 showsanother form of button also comprising two body sections 65 and 66, to-

gether with a shaft 67 for attachment-of the button to the switch or thelike, a cavity 6 being formed between the faces of the f body sections,and a luminous coating 12'being appliedtto the face of one of thesections, preferably made somewhat conical in form, so as to be readilyvisible from any position.

It will be evident that in the various forms of my invention which Ihave illustrated,

the luminous surface 12 will be visible from any point in they room inwhich the key,

,now employed.

While I do not desire to limit myself to the use of radiumized zincsulfid, or other radiumized substance, in a key, push or pendantconstructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, as, if Idesire, I may make use of any other luminous substance within the cavityin the body of the key, yet I have found. that radiumized zinc sulfid,or other radiumized substances, possess a distinct advantage in thatthey do not have to be exposed from time to time .to daylight, or otherlight, in order to keep them in luminous condition, and hence, a switchkey embodying such a substance will retain these luminous qualitiespractically indefinitely although it may be located where it is i never.exposed to light of any sort, as in a dark closet or cellar. v

' I do not desire-furthermore-to limit myself to the use of any specificform or type of key, pusher pendant, as it will be evident that .variouschanges may be made in the construction and arrangement of the variousdetails of my device, as well as in the materials from which the samemay be constructed, and the manner of forming the keys, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect byLetters Patent of the United States:

1. A luminous switch key comprising a body portion having an interiorcavity, a coating of luminous'substance in the interior of said cavity,and means for attaching said key to a switch or the like, the luminosityof said coating being visible from any angle.

2. A luminous switch key comprising a.

body portion having a plurality of members and an interior cavity, oneor more of said members being formed of translucent material, a coatingofluminous material within said cavity, and means for attaching said keyto a switch or the like.

3. A luminous switch key comprising a translucent body portion having aplurality of sections, the meeting faces of said sections forming acavity in the interior of said body portlon, means for securing saidsections in 'fixed relation, means for attaching said key to a switchshaft or the like, and a luminous substance coating the walls of saidcavity,

the luminosity of said substance being observable from any point. I

4. A luminous switch key comprising a translucent body. portion havinga. plurality of sections, the meeting faces of said sectionsbeinghollowed outto form a cavity in the interior of said body portion, meanscomprising adhesive material for securing said sectionsinffixedrelation, means for attaching .said key to a switch shaft or the like,and a luminous substance. coating the walls ofsaid cavity, theluminosity of said sub stance being-observable from any point.

-In' witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this-"15th day of June,A. D. 1914.

MILTON T. ROSENI-IEIM.'

